A method for calculating effective lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer from screening mammography

Ali, R; England, A; McEntee, M; Hogg, P

Abstract

Purpose: To propose a method for evaluating the effective lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer from
screening mammography and to present initial data for the UK National Breast Screening Programme.

Material and methods: The imaging was undertaken using a Hologic Selenia full field digital mammographic
unit. The proposed method utilises an ATOM phantom containing thermoluminescent dosimeters
and a perspex-polyethylene breast phantom to measure organ doses during a standard four view
screening mammogram. Effective dose was calculated and effective risk was modelled for a range of
client ages. The total lifetime effective risk was then calculated for the UK national screening programme.
Calculation of effective risk includes the radiation dose to examined and contralateral breasts in addition
to other body organs; this is an advantage over the mean glandular dose.

Results: The contralateral breast, thyroid, thymus, brain, lung, salivary glands, and bone marrow all
receive more than 1 mGy radiation dose during screening mammography. A major difference exists for
total effective lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer between clients with average and high breast
cancer risk. Differences are attributed to the commencement age of screening and time interval between
screens.

Conclusion: This study proposes a method to evaluate effective lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer
from screening mammography in order to compare different mammography screening programmes.

Citation

Ali, R., England, A., McEntee, M., & Hogg, P. (2015). A method for calculating effective lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer from screening mammography. Radiography, 21(4), 298-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2015.07.008

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 30, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Aug 18, 2015
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Sep 4, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 30, 2016
• Journal: Radiography
• Print ISSN: 1078-8174
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-2831
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 298-303
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2015.07.008
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2015.07.008
• Related Public URLs: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/radiography